DOHA: Poisoning from contaminated food served by a restaurant in Frij Klaib last Friday was so severe that one victim reportedly lost 25kg during a few days of his stay in hospital.
Sami Mahmoud told Al Sharq that he was a frequent visitor to Marmara Istanbul Restaurant, which has been closed by authorities following the incident.
“I used to visit the restaurant at least three times a week because it is close to my accommodation.
“On Friday, I went there with a friend and had chicken barbecue at around 10pm. By noon the next day, I developed severe stomach pain followed by diarrhoea. I had never experienced such intense diarrhoea in my life,” Al Sharq quoted him as saying. Mahmoud said he was in his office at that time, as he felt extremely tired and his entire body was heating up.
He left for home to take rest and all the way he was sweating out heavily. “Eventually, a friend took me to Hamad General Hospital emergency. When I explained the symptoms, the doctor asked what type of food I had taken. He said I could be suffering from food poisoning,” said Mahmoud. He said he was kept in the Intensive Care Unit for a few days, until he was shifted to the general ward.
“I discovered that I had lost 25kg by this time. And I learnt that there were more than 20 people who suffered from food poisoning after eating at the same restaurant. Those responsible should not go unpunished,” he said. Sources close to another victim said the latter’s two children, who were among the affected, have not yet fully recovered from the infection, although they were discharged from the hospital on Monday.The Peninsula
